Demo

Astrophysics: Gravitational Radiation as a Window on the Universe

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Greenbelt, MD Full Time
POSTED ON 10/9/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 11/1/2026

About the NASA Postdoctoral Program

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

Description:

The gravitational wave astrophysics group at NASA/GSFC works in the burgeoning field of gravitational wave astronomy and astrophysics. Predicted by general relativity, gravitational waves are disturbances in spacetime produced by the motion of massive compact objects such as black holes, neutron stars, and white dwarfs. Since the first detection in 2015,  facilities around the globe have detected hundreds of events yielding new insights into these objects, their environments and provenance, and the underlying physics of gravity itself.
 
Two major areas of research in the group are Computational Astrophysics and development of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. Computational Astrophysics applies powerful modern computing technology to simulate the complex interactions of compact objects and their environments and predict the gravitational and electromagnetic signals that current and future instruments will detect. LISA is a space-based gravitational wave detector under development through a partnership of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) that will study gravitational waves in the source-rich milliHertz frequency band when it launches in the mid-2030s. Expected LISA sources include the inspiral and merger of supermassive black hole binaries at high redshift, continuous GW emission from compact binaries in the Milky Way, and capture of compact objects by massive black holes.

Research opportunities in the gravitational wave astrophysics group include LISA mission design, LISA instrument technology, LISA data analysis development, investigations of strong gravity environments using both numerical relativity and analytic approximation methods, and astrophysics of gravitational wave sources. Interdisciplinary research projects are strongly encouraged.

 

 


Location:
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland

Field of Science:Astrophysics

Advisors:

James Thorpe
james.i.thorpe@nasa.gov
301-286-5382

Demosthenes Kazanas
Demos.Kazanas-1@nasa.gov
301-286-7680

Jeremy Schnittman
jeremy.d.schnittman@nasa.gov
301-286-8069

Scott C. Noble
scott.c.noble@nasa.gov
(301) 286-6753

Ann Hornschemeier Cardiff
ann.h.cardiff@nasa.gov
301-286-7632
 
Ryan DeRosa
ryan.t.derosa@nasa.gov
301-286-2704
 
Jacob Slutsky
jacob.p.slutsky@nasa.gov
301-286-2285

 

 

Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted at this time, unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States. A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.

 

 

Eligibility is currently open to:

  • U.S. Citizens;
  • U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR);
  • Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status; and,
  • Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status

Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp@orau.org

Salary.com Estimation for Astrophysics: Gravitational Radiation as a Window on the Universe in Greenbelt, MD
$178,871 to $219,229
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Astrophysics: Gravitational Radiation as a Window on the Universe?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Astrophysics: Gravitational Radiation as a Window on the Universe career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$200,553 - $246,540
Income Estimation: 
$142,324 - $183,300
Income Estimation: 
$68,048 - $83,238
Income Estimation: 
$79,882 - $99,769
Income Estimation: 
$94,567 - $126,847

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs with skills like those required for the Astrophysics: Gravitational Radiation as a Window on the Universe.

Click the checkbox next to the jobs that you are interested in.

  • Concept Development Skill

    • Income Estimation: $70,684 - $92,141
    • Income Estimation: $69,778 - $97,698
  • Conceptual Design Skill

    • Income Estimation: $70,684 - $92,141
    • Income Estimation: $71,252 - $93,927
Employees: Get a Salary Increase
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt, MD
  • About the NASA Postdoctoral Program The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ong... more
  • 14 Days Ago

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt, MD
  • About the NASA Postdoctoral Program The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ong... more
  • 14 Days Ago

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt, MD
  • About the NASA Postdoctoral Program The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ong... more
  • 14 Days Ago

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt, MD
  • About the NASA Postdoctoral Program The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ong... more
  • 14 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Astrophysics: Gravitational Radiation as a Window on the Universe jobs in the Greenbelt, MD area that may be a better fit.

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt, MD
  • About the NASA Postdoctoral Program The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ong... more
  • 14 Days Ago

  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt, MD
  • About the NASA Postdoctoral Program The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ong... more
  • 2 Months Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!